18 March 2007

Lenten Tilt

When Laetare Divine Services are though, it seems Lent has tilted - it is rushing towards its conclusion. By the day's end, I have only one more adult catechism class left before the Vigil. I will have only one more public school catechism class left for the year. Confirmation for the youth looms on Palm Sunday - now just two brief weeks away.

And then begins the marathon! We're committed to offering the Divine Service for every Sunday and Holy Day of the LSB calendar. When combined with our regular schedule for the weekend, that means we will observe the following:

Saturday before Palm Sunday - Divine Service, 6 p.m.
Palm Sunday - Divine Service with examination of catechumens, 7:45; Divine Service with Confirmation, 10 a.m.
Holy Monday - Matins, 6:30 a.m.; Divine Service, 7 a.m.
Holy Tuesday - Matins, 6:30 a.m.; Divine Service, 7 a.m.
Holy Wednesday - Matins, 6:30 a.m.; Divine Service, 7 a.m.

GREAT THREE DAYS: "From death to life eternal!"
Holy (Maundy) Thursday - Divine Service to begin Triduum, 7:15 p.m.
Good Friday - Chief Service, Noon; Tenebrae Vespers, 7:15 p.m.
Holy Saturday - Great Vigil of Easter, 8:00 p.m.

FEAST OF RESURRECTION: "Christ has arisen!"
Easter - Matins, 6:30 a.m.; Divine Service, 9:00 a.m.
Easter Monday - Matins, 6:30 a.m.; Divine Service, 7 a.m.
Easter Tuesday - Matins, 6:30 a.m.; Divine Service, 7 a.m.
Easter Wednesday - Matins, 6:30 a.m.; Divine Service, 7 a.m.; Compline, 8 p.m.

It's exhausting to look at it, but it's also what we've been in "training" for this Lent, and it is a fabulous feast of LIFE that is being served up to us. We hope that many folks will take advantage of the extra opportunities to receive the Lord's gracious service to us, and to render Him thanks and praise for the most important events in the entire history of the human race!

Lent draws to a close, and Easter's bright joy beckons! Let us haste to meet the Bridegroom!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

don't forget St. Joseph's tomorrow

Anonymous said...

Is it common to have confirmation on Palm Sunday?

In the church of my youth, I was confirmed on this day also.

Seems to me that Palm Sunday has too much significance of its own to be usurped by this practice.

What do you think?

Chris Jones said...

Anonymous,

In the early Church, it was the constant practice to receive neophytes into the communion of the Church on major feast days (especially Easter and Pentecost). There's no conflict between celebrating Christ's victory over death (for example) at Easter and delivering that victory to new believers by baptizing them during the Easter mass.

By the same token there is no conflict between celebrating the King's entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and having young people submit themselves to His Kingship in confirmation.

Just one man's opinion.

William Weedon said...

Dear Anon,

In our area of the midwest it is exceedingly common to have Confirmation celebrated on Palm Sunday. We don't do so every year - because some years we simply have not finished the instruction in time. Next year, with Easter falling so terribly early, we will confirm later I suspect.

Palm Sunday IS a rather full day and liturgy, but Confirmation has definitely grown on me on this day. At my home parish, Confirmation was on Pentecost. That's also a fitting day, but there is something beautiful about seeing the young people process in behind the cross, waving their palm branches, and singing: "All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer King!" As Christopher pointed out, on this day they will pledge their fidelity to that King - not in the pride of a pre-Passion Peter "I will never deny you" but in the humility of the post-Resurrection Peter "I will, by the grace of God" suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from this faith.

William Weedon said...

Jimbo,

We're having Matins and Divine Service tomorrow. Which means I better give some thought to the readings, eh?

Anonymous said...

Reverend and Deare Father,,,,,,,
You are going to have one heck of a Low Monday !

Anonymous said...

Very cool that you offer such a full treasure of liturgical opportunities for your people. Your Easter schedule is curious to me, though, in one sense, namely, you have both the Vigil of Easter and Easter Sunday Matins. Yet liturgically, as I understand it, Matins is incorporated into the Vigil, making Easter Matins (by itself) only something people traditionally prayed if they were unable to participate in the Easter Vigil. I'm willing to be corrected. Perhaps the Vigil as you will celebrate it, is not as comprehensive as that which I envision in my books (which scenario I don't criticize, but simply seek to understand).

William Weedon said...

Simple explanation, Latif. When I came here, the earlier service on Sunday morning was established, and we began using Matins for that service. It was several years before we introduced the Vigil and by that time our Sunday morning schedule was already set. So, we get a double joy!

Anonymous said...

Cool. I, myself, like to read the lessons of Easter Matins even on years when I am able to attend the Vigil, because they include a wonderful homily by St. Gregory, in which he compares the women meeting the Angel who sits on the right hand side of the tomb with the Christian's entrance into the eternal feast of heaven.
LHG